Specific ultrastructure of the leaf mesophyll cells of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae)

The ultrastucture of mesophyll cells of Deschampsia antarctica Desv. (Poaceae) leaves was investigated using the standard method of preparing material for examination in transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The investigated leaves were collected from the Antarctic hairgrass growing in a tundra microhabitat and representing xermorphic morphological and anatomical features. The general anatomical features of mesophyll cells are similar to those in cells of another grass leaves. The observations of the ultrastructure of mesophyll cells have shown that the organelles are located close to each other in a relatively small amount of the cytoplasm or closely adhere to each other. Organelles such as mitochondria, peroxisomes, and Golgi apparatus, as well as osmiophilic materials are gathered close to the chloroplasts. The chloroplast of the mesophyll cells of the D. antarctica leaf can form concavities filled with the cytoplasm. Such behaviour and ultrastructure of organelles facilitate exchange/flow of different substances engaged in the metabolic activity of the cell between cooperating organelles.